The mother of missing RAF gunner Corrie McKeague has expressed her relief at police halting the filling in of the landfill cell where her son is believed to be buried.

Police conducted the painstaking search for 20 weeks, sifting through more than 6,000 tons of rubbish in a bid to uncover Corrie's remains, but called off the search on Friday after they said they found "no trace" of the missing 23-year-old.

Nicola Urquhart’s comments come after Corrie’s father, Martin McKeague, temporarily blocked off access to the Milton landfill site as a statement of intent before talks with Suffolk Police on Friday.

Left: Missing RAF Honington airman Corrie McKeague when he disappeared. Right: Boots and a shirt he is believed to have been wearing when he disappeared

Police reiterated that the search would not turn into a criminal investigation, but officers will examine incineration waste in the coming weeks.

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"They have heard our concerns at the landfill being handed back and being filled in and have now said although handed back, it will not be touched and will remain in the same condition until after the review by an independent force.

"So now, without the need for injunctions we can pause, we have now been given time, time to catch up, time to understand and time to talk about exactly how Suffolk Police have come to their decision.